McClain: Texans must improve on blitz pick-ups

Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has been sacked 10 times over the first two weeks of the season.

Photo: Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Here are five takeaways from Texans' coach Bill O'Brien's Monday news conference after the 13-12 victory over Jacksonville:

Imperative to work on blitz pick-up

Deshaun Watson was sacked four times against the Jaguars, none by a defensive lineman. Two came on blitzes. Cornerback D.J. Hayden had one when he was untouched. Outside linebackers Leon Jacobs and Myles Jack shared the other one.

On the other two sacks, Watson had time to throw and ran out of bounds when he couldn't locate a receiver, and he dropped a high snap and fell on the ball for the other. Bill O'Brien was asked about blocking the blitz.

"There are a lot of things that go into a blitz vs. the pass," he said. "Whether it's the protection being more solid, somebody needs to break a route, the quarterback needs to recognize it sooner – there's like 50 things that go into it. We definitely have to improve in some of those areas."

Smooth transition for Roby

When cornerback Aaron Colvin, who covered inside receivers, was placed on waivers last week, there was speculation about how defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel would adjust in the Jacksonville game. The natural move was to shift Bradley Roby inside and insert rookie Lonnie Johnson to play outside opposite Johnathan Joseph.

Roby, who's playing under a one-year, $10 million contract, made a seamless transition inside in the victory over the Jaguars. Johnson played well on the outside. Roby has rewarded the Texans' faith in him by being a splendid addition to the defense since the start of training camp.

"Bradley's played well," Bill O'Brien said. "He's a good teammate and does what we ask him to do. He's got patience and good ball skills. He's tackled well, and he'll work hard to improve."

Even though they were missing injured cornerback A.J. Bouye, Jacksonville's pass coverage was superb for most of the game. DeAndre Hopkins' longest catch was 14 yards playing primarily against cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Kenny Stills had a team-best 31-yard reception. Will Fuller caught one for 28 yards. Fuller also dropped a long pass that could have led to a touchdown or field goal.

"They played three-deep coverage," Bill O'Brien said. "They have good cover players. We hit them with one or two and one that maybe we could have come down with. They've got a good defense. We'll work hard to try to get better."

Stopping run keys defensive performance

The Texans knew if they were going to beat Jacksonville they would have to contend with third-year running back Leonard Fournette. With rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew making his first start, the Texans knew the Jaguars would try to rely heavily on Fournette.

"The ability to stop the run was huge," Bill O'Brien said. "Other than one or two here and there, the run defense was unbelievable."

Fournette carried 15 times for 47 yards, a 3.1-yard average. His longest run was 14 yards. Subtract that run and he averaged 2.3 yards on his other 14 carries.

Minshew hurt the Texans with his running more than Fournette did. He had a 21-yard run in the first half and an 18-yarder in the second. He finished with six carries for 56 yards, a 9.3 average.

When they play the Los Angeles Chargers in their next game, the Texans won't have to worry about quarterback Philip Rivers running. He's a pure pocket passer who doesn't like to take off unless it's absolutely necessary.

Cunningham steps up for Texans

The Texans limited the Jaguars to 281 yards, including 103 rushing. Whitney Mercilus, who had two sacks and a forced fumble, wasn't the only linebacker who excelled.

Inside linebacker Zach Cunningham played perhaps the best game of his career. He led the team with nine tackles, all unassisted. He dropped into coverage effortlessly. He also sacked Gardner Minshew for an 8-yard loss.

"He played a great game," Bill O'Brien said. "He was all over the place. He's an instinctive player. He tackled well, covered well and blitzed well. That's one of the best games he's played."

John McClain, a Waco native who graduated from Baylor in 1975, is in his 43rd year at the Houston Chronicle and his 40th covering the National Football League, including the Oilers and Texans. He worked for the Waco Tribune Herald from 1973-76, when he accepted a job with the Chronicle. to cover the original Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Association.

McClain has a plaque in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio as the 2006 winner of the Dick McCann Memorial Award presented annually by the Pro Football Writers of America to a writer for his long and distinguished coverage of the NFL. He is past president of the Pro Football Writers of America.

He's a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee, the Pro Football Hall of Fame Seniors Committee and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame Selection Committee.

In 2015, he was named as a Gridiron Legend in Texas, becoming the third member of the media behind Dave Campbell and Mickey Herskowitz.

McClain can be heard six times a week on the Texans' flagship station Sports Radio 610 in Houston. He also does weekly sports talk shows in Nashville, Knoxville, Waco, Austin and San Antonio.

McClain also has appeared in eight movies: The Rookie, The Longest Yard, Spring Breakers, Secretariat, Invincible, Cook County, The Game Plan and Make It Rain.